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Confused about how, when, and where to get a vaccine? You’re not alone. And Google may be able to help.
Google searches for “vaccines near me” have increased 5x since the start of 2021, so Google has announced plans to make finding and getting a COVID-19 vaccine easier. With billions of people looking to get vaccinated against the virus in the coming months, the need for accurate, understandable information about vaccinations is acute.
Last week, Google announced several initiatives to help people find and get vaccines. With supplies short and regulations about who can get vaccinated plentiful, many people are confused and frustrated about how, when, and where to get a vaccine.
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Confusion About Getting the Vaccine
According to a recent Kaiser Foundation study, 60% of Americans feel they do not have enough information about when they can get a vaccine. And 55% of Americans don’t know where they’ll be able to get a vaccine.
Similarly, the Kaiser study found that older Americans (65 and above) are confused about when and where to get a vaccine. “Among adults 65 and over – a group that has higher priority for the vaccine – about six in ten say they do not have enough information about when (58%) and where (59%) they will be able to get the vaccine.” KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor: January 2021
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Google Providing Local Vaccine Information
Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, announced last week that Google is “providing more than $150 million to promote vaccine education and equitable distribution and making it easier to find locally relevant information, including when and where to get the vaccine. We’ll also be opening up Google spaces to serve as vaccination sites as needed.”
Google Search will begin showing vaccine information panels in search results in over 40 countries and in “dozens of languages” so people will be able to easily learn about getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Soon, Google will release a “Get the Facts” campaign on Google Search and YouTube to help people get accurate and timely information about where and when to get vaccinated.
People who search for “vaccines near me” will be able to see results on both Google Search and Google Maps. Search results will include important information such as whether an appointment and/or referral is required, eligibility restrictions, and whether a location offers drive-through vaccinations.
Google is starting to provide this vaccine information in the United States, specifically in Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. The company will expand its enhanced vaccine search results to other states and countries in the future.
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Google Increasing Accessibility to Vaccines
To help with the distribution and administration of vaccines, Google will be offering some of its buildings, parking lots, and open spaces for vaccinations. Google says it will work with local authorities to make its sites available to anyone who is eligible to receive a vaccine.
Initially, Google will make its sites available in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area in California; Kirkland, Washington; and New York City. Eventually, Google plans to make its sites available for vaccinations across the U.S.
Google Providing Funding for Vaccine Education and Access
Google has also pledged to donate over $150 million dollars to aid in providing access to and education about the vaccine. $100 million in grants will go to the CDC Foundation, the World Health Organization, and nonprofit organizations around the world.
The company has also promised to donate $50 million to help “public health agencies to reach underserved communities with vaccine-related content and information.” Google has pledged $5 million “in grants to organizations addressing racial and geographic disparities in COVID-19 vaccinations.”
Your Thoughts
Do you know when and where you can get a COVID-19 vaccine? Have you been confused about your eligibility to get a vaccine? Would you find enhanced vaccine search results from Google and Google Maps helpful?
Share your thoughts in the Comments section below!
Ha!
Do you know when and where you can get a COVID-19 vaccine?
Not a clue!
Have you been confused about your eligibility to get a vaccine? Not anymore since the most recent posting from my state health dept.
Would you find enhanced vaccine search results from Google and Google Maps helpful?
So here is the thing. It is an ethical dilemma. How do I ensure that essential personnel – front line workers and nursing home residents and staff-
That all of those people are vaccinated before this white, healthy, 70 year old?
I want the vaccine. I want a little bit of a sense of security. But in the end it will be meaningless if those more exposed or with greater risk for suffering seriously are not protected.
Hi Carol, Excellent point. There are certainly ethical dilemmas with vaccine distribution. By helping to educate people about where and how to get vaccinated, Google will be making it easier for people to get vaccinated. And the more people get vaccinated, the quicker the spread can stop and the chances of the virus mutating will be reduced. That will benefit not only the people who are vaccinated but society as a whole.
Hi
Covid 19 vaccine information is different on every site.
google rank easy those sites who use covid 19 vaccine information. I need Investment company to spend more money for vaccine purchases.
Hi Zimal, Excellent point. Websites can be confusing and, unfortunately, spammy websites exist giving false vaccine information. Google showing current accurate information about vaccine availability could be very helpful to people around the world.
As a public school teacher, who will shortly return to classes likely prior to being vaccinated, I welcome Google’s input, especially since by and large there is a system in place tp assure that those who are being vaccinated are in the folks in the proper phase. While I know there’s been some cheating on that, I get the impression that protocols are mostly being followed. Thank you for the article. 🙂
Hello Al, I hope you’re able to find a vaccine and return to the classroom safely. Finding a vaccine isn’t easy so using this Google tool may help guide you to getting an appointment.
Thats an amazing thing from google i must say that. it will make easy to get vaccine
Hi Stacy, This could help people find out where to get a vaccine. I hope the vaccine becomes more readily available so that this can be very useful to people.